Hydrostatically controlled arming switch



March 25, 1958 s, MUZZEY, JR 2,827,850 HYDROSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ARMING SWITCH Filed May 12, 1952 ccacccct INVENTOR. DAVID S. MUZZEY JR. BY Kiw W Wm shouldbe prematurely released.

2,827,850 HYDROSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ARMING SWITCH David S. Muzzey, J12, Washington, D. C.,' assignor to the United States of America as represented by the SecretaryoftheNavy M Application May 12,1952, strains. 287,410

4 Claims. c1: 102 -16)- (Granted under Title 35, p.151 Code (1252), sec. 266) The invention described herein maybe manufactured switch in the firing circuit of a mine. Such devices employ an initially wound spring and for this reason may prematurely arm the mine'if the escapement mechanism "The present "inventionoverc'oines the diflicul tie s referred to by providinga hydrostatically controlled switch by means of'which a time delay of from one to-two Weeks'is possible. A diaphragm 'in re sponse.to :water pressure thereagainst forces a piston having a rack mounted thereon downwardly. The rack engages a pinion which through a suitable gear train is provided with an escapement. Adjacent the lower end of the rack member is provided a pair of spaced spring pressed contacts which normally engage an insulated end portion of the rack member. When the water pressure against the diaphragm causes the rack member to move inwardly at a speed determined by the gear train of the escapement the metallic portion of the rack member bridges the contact members thereby completing the arming circuit in the mine. It can be seen, therefore, that the presently disclosed device provides a means for closing an arming switch in the firing circuit of a mine in time delayed relation to the laying of the mine.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hydrostatically operated means for closing an arming switch in the firing circuit of a mine in time delayed relation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piston in a mine which is adapted to be moved inwardly by water pressure thereagainst to close an arming switch and in which the rate of movement thereof is controlled by a gear train and escapement mechanism.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means for closing an arming switch in a mine which is relatively simple in construtcion and economical to produce.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a mine showing the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views there is shown in Fig. 1 the body of a mine 1 which is provided nited States. Patent-O and used by or for the Government of the United States 2 with a circular bore 2. Slidably disposed within this bore is a piston 3 having a rack portion 4 integral therewith which is guided by flanged portions 5 of the body of'the mine. A diaphragm 6 is suitably secured around the periphery of the bore to the body of the mine and provides an effective sealing means for the mechanism. The piston is preferably urged outwardly by a flexible spring 16 having one end thereof disposed within an annular recess with the piston and the outer end in engagement with a fixed plate 17 having an aperture therein within which the rack 4 is disposed. The rackmember .4 is engaged by. a pinion 7 (Fig. 2) .to which is secured a gear 8, the shaft, 9 of both gears being suitably journalled in the. body of the mine. Gear 8'throu'gh gear train 10 drives'escape wheel '11 which is engaged by a pallet 12, schematically shown in Fig. 1.

Suitably secured'to a flange 13 and flange 5 on the body of the mine is a pair of spaced contact members '14 which are spring urged into engagement with rack 4. The lower end portion 15 of rack 4 is insulated so that when the piston and rack member are in the position of Fig. 1 the circuit of contacts 14 is open. When the mine is laid, however, water pressure acting against diaphragm 6 causes piston 3 and rack 4 to move inwardly in time delayed relationdetermined by the gear train 10 and escapement. WhenL'the rack 4 has moved inwardly the metallic portion of this'member bridges contacts 14 there-v by completing the circuit. v f

f. .Whereasin the illustrated embodiment of the invention, theiconta'ct members are closed bya complementary contacting portion of the slidable rack 'niemben'it will be understood, th'at,if desired, other switching elements .may be employed- For example; the switchelement may be closed by a cam member actuated by the gear train of the escapement mechanism and operable when the piston has reached the end of its travel or, alternatively, a cam surface or detent may be secured to the rack for closing a switch by movement of the switching elements thereof as the piston travels to the limit of its inward movement.

It is apparent that there has been provided a means for closing a switch in time delayed relation and operable by hydrostatic pressure. The time delay may be varied by changing the gear ratio employed, by varying the inertial mass or moment of the pallet member or the num ber of teeth on the escapement wheel or by any other suitable means.

While the device has been described for use in closing the arming circuit of a mine in time delayed relation it can be seen that the present invention has utility in any underwater device wherein it is desired to provide a time delay.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class disclosed, a mine having a bore therein, a diaphragm secured to the periphery of said bore, a piston having a rack member mounted thereon slidably disposed within said bore and movable by said diaphragm from an initial position to a circuit closing position, normally open, switch means mounted within said bore and having a pair of mutually spaced contacts normally in an open condition and closed as the rack member moves into said switch closing position, said rack member and piston being movable inwardly a predetermined amount to close said contacts in response to water pressure against said diaphragm, means carried by said rack member in engagement with said pair of contacts for maintaining the contacts in said 'opeifcbndition until said rack member and, piston are moved said predetermined amount, and escapement means operatively connected to said rack member for retarding inward movement thereof in suchfmanner that the switch-means is closed at the. expiration cfapredelterminedperiod of time. a

2. In a device of the class di sclosed for useina: mine having a bore therein, adiaphragm secured to the periphc y of said b re, a switchcomprisinga pair ofnormaily'open mutually spaced contacts mounted within s i bor a Piston including rackmeansthereon :disposed adjacent said diaphragm-rand having insulating-andcconduct' ing-portions thereon disposedawithinsaidbore and movable a predetermined amount therein; :said insu1 ns 1 tionnormallysengaging said pair lat-spaced icon-taets for maintaining the contacts; normally qop'en until said rack means is moved a predetermined amount,=said track means being 7 moved said predetermined amount by said diaphragm in response to water pressur'elthereagainst where in he contactsare-closedas said conducting portion on the'rackmeans bridges said spaced contacts, and escapement means operatively connected to 'said rack means for retarding the inward movement. of-said rack means.

3. In adevice of theciass described,'a' minehaving' a bore therein, a diaphragm secured to the periphe'ry of said bore and having an annular depression formed there in, a movable piston normallydisposed adjacent said diaphragm within said bore and having an r annular recess for receiving 'said sdepl'ession, a rackmember tintegra'l' with said piston and; movable therewith, a :piniomengaging said rack member, escapement means'enga'ging'said pinion and retarding'imovement of-saidirack-rnember-and piston, said move'mentbeingcaused by hydrostatic-pressure-against said diaphragm; switch ihBflllSiiiOUfltfldWilh in- .said' bore -and-"having [a Y pair oficontaets normaliy' in n op n position, -an-insuiating=-member onqm'd arack "member formaintaifiir'ig the contacts in said open condition until said rack member has been moved a predetermined amount, and a conducting portion on said rack member for closing said contacts when the rack member has moved said predetermined amount.

4. In a device of the class described, a mine having a bore therein, a diaphragm secured around the periphery of said bore and having an annular depressionformed therein, a piston havinga rack member integral therewith slidably disposed within said bore and having an annular recess formed thereinfor'receiving-said depression, said rack member having conducting and insulating portions, switch means comprising spaced contact members spring"pressed into eu'gagen'ientwith "said rack member, said contactmembers normally engaging the V termined' amount in time-delayed relation determined by said I escapement means" whereby" the conducting portion of said rack member bridges said contact members and closessaidswitch. a

7 References in the file of this patent UNITEDFSTATES-VPATENTS frjulogoaa "Gabriei Nov\.28, 1911 2;"110552 *Hayd'en- ..;.'Mar. 8,1938 2,419,815. r Breeze Apr. 29, '1947 V @FDREIGNPATENTS V 

